Kansai WIDE Area Pass, the best deal for Kansai and Okayama, Kurashiki, Kinosakai and Shingu area

Since Kansai WIDE Area Pass was released in April, 2012, this deal has been very popular for the tourist who wants to travel outside Kansai, like Kinosaki Onsen, Kii peninsula and Okayama/Kurashiki. This pass covers much bigger area than other Kansai area passes, like JR West Kansai Area Pass, Kansai Thru Pass. I am very happy that tourist tries to visit not only Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe but also outside Kansai.

In this post, I would like to show you the details of this pass and make sure the difference from other passes.

Coverage area

Kansai WIDE Area Pass covers not only Kansai area, such as Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Kansai airport, Nara and Himeji but also many places outside Kansai area. I would like to introduce some popular spots. Please see the map below:

Shingu (新宮) – This town is located at the south end of Kii peninsula. It is the gate town of UNESCO World Hertage Site, “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range”. This can be accessed by limited express Kuroshio from Kyoto, Shin-Osaka and Tennoji too.

Okayama (岡山) – This city is located in Chugoku region and have one of three best landscape garden, Kourakuen Garden. It can be accessed by Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka in one hour.

Kurashiki (倉敷) – It is 15 minutes away from Okayama by local train. The preserved “Canal Area” is quite popular. There is Shin-Kurashiki station on Sanyo Shinkanse. But this station is not located in Kurashiki area. And Sanyo Shinkansenn between Okayama and Shin-Kurashiki is not covered by Kansai WIDE Area Pass either. Get on local train from Okayama when you get there.

Takamatsu (高松) – It is a gate city in Shikoku. It has Takamatsu castle and very popular Udon noodle.

I recommend you to stay in these places. But you can visit all above spots as day trip. If you are looking for something different in your trip other than Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka, Nara and Himeji, this pass gives you access and a huge saving.

Limited Express Hamakaze (Osaka-Tottori) This express trains goes to Tottori. And this is only train to get Tottori from Osaka directly. Tottori was not in coverage area but it was included as of mid April, 2017.

Limited Express Hashidate (Kyoto-Fukuchiyama) This express trains goes to Amanohashidate. You can get Amanohashidate directly from Kyoto by this train. Amanohashidate is located on Kyoto Tango Railway which was not covered by this pass. But as of mid April, 2017, the coverage area was expanded. Kyoto Tango Railway is not covered by this pass fully.

Limited Express Super Hakuto (Kyoto-Kamigori) This express trains goes to Kurayoshi. But these areas are outside of the area where is covered. And this train is not mentioned on the official page. But technically you can take this train between Kyoto and Kamigori with no charge. However you can take Sanyo Shinkansen by this pass. Aioi staiton on Sanyo Shinkansen is two stations away from Kamigori. Shinkansen is much faster than this train, Super Hakuto.

Limited Express Wide View Hida (Osaka-Maibara) This express trains goes to Takayama. But this is obviously outside of the area where is covered. And this train is not mentioned on the official page. But technically you can take this train between Osaka and Maibara with no charge. However there is only one round trip a day. It is not much useful.

As of mid April 2017, this pass started to cover JR bus in Kyoto and Fukui. In Kyoto, you can get Ryoan-ji temple, Kitano-Tenmangu shrine, Takao area via Nijo. This pass also covers Obamba to/from Omi-Imazu bus service and Sonobe to/from Fukuchiyama bus service.

As I mentioned above, Kyoto Tango Railway is now covered. You also can take Wakayama Dentetsu Railway between Wakayama and Kishi by this pass.

Price

There will be two different prices, purchase outside Japan and inside Japan. If you purchase it outside Japan, price is slightly cheaper. Please see the details at the below:

5 days pass

Purchase outside Japan or online

Purchase inside Japan

Adult

9,000 yen

9,500 yen

Child6-11 years

4,500 yen

4,750 yen

The validity of a rail pass starts from 12 O’clock at night, midnight to midnight.

Compare with regular fare

This is very attractive price. It is very easy to pay off. The following sample fares includes base fare and non reserved seat limited express surcharge:

Compare Kansai WIDE Area Pass and Kansai Area Pass

You can choose 1 to 4 days from Kansai Area Pass. Please refer the post, How to use JR West Kansai Area Pass. Compare pass and single fare. The prices are 2,060 yen, 4,110 yen, 5,140 yen and 6,170 yen. Kansai Area Pass covers only Kansai area and does not allow you to take any express trains other than Airport Express Train Haruka. I recommend you to use 1 days pass for transfer from Kansai airport to Shin-Osaka/Kyoto. As you saw the regular fare above, 1 day pass rate 2,330 yen is cheaper than one way trip to Shin-Osaka from Kansai airport. But there is ICOCA and Haruka that includes Haruka one way ticket and 1500 yen ICOCA e-money. This is better deal than Kansai Area Pass one day.

If you compare both passes, the price is less than 2,000 yen difference. Kansai WIDE Area Pass covers many more places and more trains. In my opinion, Kansai Wide Area Pass has much greater value than Kansai Area Pass.

Even if you stay and travel in Kansai area only, Kansai Thru Pass may be better choice because it covers subway and bus services in Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe.

Compare Kansai WIDE Area Pass and Kansai Thru Pass

As I mentioned on my post, How to choose discount railway ticket and pass in Kansai (Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara) area, Kansai Thru Pass is the best rail pass for sightseeing in Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe. This deal includes Kyoto municipal transportation (subway and bus) and Osaka municipal transportation (subway and bus). This is a huge asset to explore in Kyoto and Osaka. Especially you cannot go to any popular spots without subway and bus services in Kyoto. All JR rail passes, Kansai WIDE Area Pass, Kansai Area Pass, even Japan Rail Pass, do not cover any subway and city bus services. Kansai Thru Pass covers all major private rail lines too. In Kansai area, there are many private rail lines. When you go to Kyoto and Nara from Osaka, private lines, Hankyu (Umeda-Kawaramachi), Keihan (Yodoyabashi/Kyobashi-Shijo/Sanjo), Kintetsu (Namba/Tsuruhashi-Nara, Kyoto-Nara) are more convenient.

Conclusion

So if you are sure that you stay and travel in Kansai area only, I don’t recommend you to use Kansai WIDE Area Pass. But if you are interested in the area other than Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka, Nara and Himeji to visit, this pass may be suitable for you. Kansai Thru Pass is a good rail pass. But this pass does not cover the area other than Kansai area, such as Kinosaki, Okayama and Shirahama.

If you stay in Kansai area for 3 days or less, you do not have enough time to explore outside Kansai. You should stay and enjoy sightseeing in Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and Nara. But if you stay for 4 days or more, you may have an extra time to enjoy both Kansai are and outside of Kansai.

ex) If you stay in Osaka for 5 nights, Day 1 Kansai airpot – Shin Osaka (Kansai WIDE Area Pass) Day 2 Day trip to Shirahama (Kansai WIDE Area Pass) Day 3 Day trip to Kurashiki (Kansai WIDE Area Pass) Day 4 Day trip to Kyoto (Kansai Thru Pass) Day 5 Day trip to Nara (Kansai Thru Pass) Day 6 Osaka – Kansai airport (Kansai Thru Pass)

Even though you use Kansai WIDE Area Pass for 3 days, you get your money worth.

I hope this pass encourages you to explore outside Kansai area. I love Kinosaki and Kurashiki. If you have an extra time, I strongly recommend you to visit these places!

I think you may visit Himeji and Kobe on same day. If you visit Nara and Himeji, you will go through Kobe. Visiting Kobe and Himeji on same day is more efficient. If you stay near subway or Non JR railway’s station, Kansai thru pass is your choice. Otherwise Kansai area pass is better choice.

I would like to ask if i buy the 5days jr kansai wide pass. It stated as we can’t go by shin osaka to Kyoto. How do i travel from shin osaka to Kyoto can i use the Special Rapid Services, Rapid Services travel to Kyoto?

Day 1: Nankai railway and subway deal – this is only one way from Kansai Airport to Namba Station. So do i need to get seperate ticket/pass to travel to Tanimachi 9-chome Station? After leave the luggage, I will go to Shinsaibashi Street and Dotonbori area, do i buy seperate ticket from the ticket machine?

Day 4 to day 8, Kansai One Pass work as “Prepaid” basis, do they have price different for Adult and Children? (minimum deposit is 2,000 yen, so the credit will deduce everytime we take a ride, correct?) Is this better than Kansai Tru Pass?

Subway and Nankai deal includes one way from KIX to Namba by Nankai railway and subway from Namba to any stations. So you can get Taminachi 9-chome. After arrival at Tanimachi 9 chome, you can purchase a regular ticket at the vending machine.

Kansai one pass is not available for child. Because adult fare is automatically deducted. There is Child ICOCA. Child fare is deducted by this Child ICOCA. You can buy it for your child. It’s available from 6 years to 11 years. Under 5 years is free of charge. Over 12 years applies to adult fare.

Day 9 – Day 15 check out Kyoto and will be going to Shirakawago, Mount Fuji and Tokyo thereafter. (will be renting car till Mount Fuji. Will be staying in Tokyo for 4 days with free & easy itinerary, any pass available which include Tokyo to Narita Airport ? (as i will be flying off from Narita Airport)

For day 4 to 8, you may use Kansai one pass basically. It’s same type of card as ICOCA. But Kansai one pass is designed for foreign tourist. It offers discount at many attractions in Kansai area:https://kansaionepass.com/en/about.html?info=1

I am great hat i found your blog earlier before i depart to Japan, your recommendation was useful for me to plan my transportation during my trip. I just return to my country from Japan, i would like to share here which pass i hve use based on my itinerary shated earlier.

Day 1 – i took Kansai shuttle bus from airport to Osaka Uehommachi where the bus stop is just 10 minutes walk to my accomodation. This save the hassle where i don’t have to change train at Namba Station with large luggage.

Day 2 and 3 – Osaka Amazing pass

Day 4 – single train ticket from Osaka Uehommachi to Nara

Day 5 – single train ticket from Nara to Kyoto

Day 6, 7 and 8 – bus pass at 500yen per day which have stop at most of the tourist spots.

Thanks again for you recommedation provided. Regards, Yang (By the way, i bought 3 days Tokyo Subway Ticket for my stay in Tokyo)

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About JP Rail.com

This website is unofficial website about Japan Rail Pass, other rail passes and rail travel in Japan. It explains you how to use Japan Rail Pass and assists you to use Japan Rail Pass to its maximum! And also this site explain about many more rail passes, gives you tips and supports you to enjoy rail trip in Japan.

About JP Rail.com

This website is unofficial website about Japan Rail Pass, other rail passes and rail travel in Japan. It explains you how to use Japan Rail Pass and assists you to use Japan Rail Pass to its maximum! And also this site explain about many more rail passes, gives you tips and supports you to enjoy rail trip in Japan.